Sampras faces tough task

Four-time Open champ has rough draw; Serena’s easier than sister

New York  Four-time U.S. Open champion Pete Sampras won't have an easy run to the tournament finals this year.

His possible foes include 15th-seeded Guillermo Canas in the third round, No. 3 Tommy Haas in the fourth, followed by No. 5 Tim Henman or No. 11 Andy Roddick.

Meanwhile, top-seeded Serena Williams landed a more favorable draw than Venus, the two-time defending Open champion. No. 2-seeded Venus has Jennifer Capriati, Monica Seles and Martina Hingis on her side of the field.

Serena's first match is against wild-card Corina Morariu, who recently returned to action after fighting leukemia since May 2001.

"That'll be a celebration, just for her to be on the court," U.S. Fed Cup captain Billie Jean King said.

The earliest Williams could face a top-20 player is in the fourth round, against 15th-seeded Anastasia Myskina.

Lleyton Hewitt, the Wimbledon champion, could be in for a second-round meeting with rugged 1997 finalist Greg Rusedski.

Andre Agassi, seeded sixth, has a possible fourth-round match against No. 9 Carlos Moya. Thomas Johansson will withdraw because of an injured right shoulder.